CVE-2018-3185 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.23 and prior and 8.0.12 and prior. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Server as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of MySQL Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.5 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3185 resides within the InnoDB storage engine of Oracle MySQL Server, representing a critical weakness that affects multiple version ranges including 5.7.23 and earlier releases as well as 8.0.12 and prior iterations. This flaw operates at the core database engine level where InnoDB manages data storage and retrieval processes, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with elevated privileges who possess network access capabilities. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical sophistication while the requirement for high privileged access suggests that the attacker must already have significant credentials within the system or possess legitimate administrative access points. The security implications extend beyond simple data compromise as this vulnerability can be leveraged to execute complete denial of service attacks against the MySQL server infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through specific mechanisms that allow attackers to manipulate the InnoDB storage engine's behavior in ways that can cause system instability and unauthorized data manipulation. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability enables attackers to either cause the MySQL server to hang indefinitely or trigger repeated crashes that effectively render the database service unavailable to legitimate users. Additionally, the flaw permits unauthorized modification of database contents through update, insert, and delete operations on specific portions of the server's accessible data. This dual impact on both availability and integrity aligns with the CVSS 3.0 scoring system which assigns a base score of 5.5 reflecting the moderate severity level. The attack vector assessment shows AV:N (network access) with AC:L (low complexity) and PR:H (high privilege requirements), indicating that while the attack itself is straightforward, it requires significant prior access or credentials to execute successfully.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3185 extends far beyond immediate service disruption as organizations may experience complete database outages that can affect business continuity and data integrity across multiple applications dependent on MySQL services. The vulnerability's potential to cause repeated crashes means that even brief exploitation periods could result in extended downtime and data consistency issues that require extensive recovery procedures. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face significant risk of unauthorized data modification, which could compromise sensitive information and violate regulatory compliance requirements. The availability impact specifically targets the complete denial of service scenario where legitimate database users cannot access critical business data, while the integrity impact allows for unauthorized modifications that could corrupt data or manipulate business-critical information. This vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) categories, indicating potential weaknesses in access control mechanisms and memory management within the InnoDB subsystem.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3185 require immediate implementation of Oracle's security patches and updates for affected MySQL versions, particularly focusing on upgrading to versions 5.7.24 or later and 8.0.13 or higher where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel have high-privileged access to MySQL server infrastructure. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of database access or service disruption that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) techniques, indicating that exploitation relies on legitimate access credentials combined with specific service disruption methods. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and access controls, while implementing principle of least privilege access controls to minimize the potential impact of any future exploitation attempts. Database administrators should also establish robust backup and recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration of services in case of successful exploitation events.